Show GENERAL conference the discourses delivered yesterday THE PRESENT TRIALS A GRAND WORK OF preparation the only way for the people to im prove spiritually the fifty eighth annual conference of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints convened in the tabernacle salt lake city at 10 a m yesterday april oth apostle lorenzo snow presiding there were on the stand of the twelve lorenzo snow heber J grant and jolin V of the counselors to the twelve daniel H wella patriarch john smith of the presiding council of alie seventies henry iberri man horace S eldredge jacob gates abram H cannon seymour B young of the presiding bishopric john it winder there were also present a large number of presidents of stakes and other leading brethren the choir sang the hymn on page 46 opening prayer was offered by apostle john W singing by the choir 1 I know that my redeemer Ke deemer lives I 1 ELDER F A president of san juan stake was alie first speaker ep eaker he said in substance with the assistance of the lord I 1 will do the best I 1 can to comfort the saints and speak concerning those things which interest them today to day lu looking at the many aged people present with whom I 1 am acquainted 1 am reminded of an inquiry made by a poet in relation to the future life shall we know each other there I 1 am assured that we will and this understanding der standing gives me energy vigor and joy I 1 rejoice in this work and do not feel discouraged although it looks a little cloudy but the hip zion has not loat her headway it had never done so we are meeting with opposition as we expected and make our way inch by inch sometimes it has been smooth sailing and then the crew were in alie most danger as they then became careless storms develop the energies of all hands I 1 rejoice in the experiences we have passed through and that we are now meeting the haul of the lord is in it all it teaches us that if the lord is not with us we are in a sorry plight as we have no hope from any pother source I 1 have no fear but that those who have the light of the lord with them will go through every ordeal unscathed it will be otherwise with those who are unfaithful it is my desire to know the mind of the lord in reference to myself and the people to whom I 1 minister this is the privilege of each officer and member of the church PRESIDENT HENRY of washington kane county was the next speaker ha had been in the church fifty five years and knew by what he had seen and heard that the principles of the gospel were true and if there were any persons within the sound of liis voice who did not possess the name knowledge he would aay to them humble yourselves as a little child and seek such knowledge in the only proper way he bore his testimony to the truth of the gospel and urged all to remain firm and SEYMOUR B YOUNG praed eliat the lord might inspire him to say something that would be of benefit to liis brothers and sisters from whom he desired their faith and prayers that they might rejoice when they separated and feel that it was good to meet and speak of the blessings of god brother hammond remarked that his faith had grown brighter that he had increased in knowledge in power and wisdom since ha went down into the waters of baptism in 1832 brother herriman had expressed similar sentiments and borne a strong testimony to the truth of the goc pel both of the speakers ho had personally known for a long period of years he had with the latter tho pleasure of pulling a handcart across the plains in 1847 and had found him then as now a faithful consistent servant of god he was thankful that we were able to have a testimony that god biad spoken to us in the latter days when we went down into the waters of baptism it was for the purpose of having our sins washed away but that was not all that was necessary repentance did not forgive us of our sins but obedience to the law of the gospel was necessary and it was not until we had the hands of the servants of god laid upon us that we felt we were members of the church of god if jesus had humbled himself to go down into the waters of baptism did it not become everyone of us to do the same we find throughout alie world many churches whose creeds say believe and ye shall be saved baptism by immersion was the only true way and i yet there were many sects who believed that they were doing that which god had required of them anen they took an in fant and had it sprinkled what need was there to baptize an infant for the remission of its sins when it was without sin but this is about in keeping with the other professions of their faitha and calling every principle of the gospel that had been revealed was true the principle of celestial marriage was a true one and would save and exalt all who entered into it and kept it in the spirit in which it was intended the enemies of the people would yet receive a reckoning at the hands of god i ELDER ANDREW realized he was unable to say anything that would be of benefit without the holy spirit j yet he felt that an elder in israel should always be ready for any emergency for any surprise he felt however that he i had a testimony to bear this morning that this was the church and kingdom i of god he appreciated the blessings of god that had been poured oufa upon this community he was rejoiced ta hear the testimony of the brethren who had preceded him and was sorry to notice that there were many young men and women in the church alio had not paid the proper attention to the pies oi the gospel and it waa necessary for these to know more than would be found necessary were they members of any other denomination if joseph smith had been an impostor he could not have called down the angels from on high leave caused the spirit of beace and harmony that prevailed and have I 1 worked the great miracles that had fol owed he bore a strong testimony to truth of the gospel and lieveld hat the trouble and trials brough which the saints were now passing ultimately prove to be for their greatness and elory the choir ang the anthem the lord alli alon and after by elder george goddard an adjournment was taken until 2 SESSION conference began by the choir singing may wo who know the joyful bound prayer was offered by counselor daniel H wells and the services were continued by singing APOSTLE scow then took the stand and said the peculiarity of the times seems to bring forebodings of great trouble to the latter day saints and it has become absolutely necessary in consequence of the decenes through which ace baleto pass that each I 1 dual understand the foundation upon which they establish their belief in principle or their hopes and the nature of the gospel is such as to give us this opportunity As a church ws have passed through scenes of great trials and afflictions during the last fifty eight years and thousands of the saints have had their faith severely tested because of the peculiar way tha almighty has seen fit to bring upon us for this Is the only way for his people to improve in intelligence spiritually and to fit us for a sphere in the celestial kingdom of our god and to prepare us for the coming of our lord jesus christ when he shall be accompanied by his aneals in order that hia great purposes might be accod when the knowledge of god shall cover the earth as the waters do the bosom of the mighty deep and when peace and happiness shall reign universally over the globe when all men and women who dwell upon its face shall enjoy the blessings and privileges which were determined by god when this earth rolled from dark chaos and was established for the inhabitants of his children PESSI DEITT JACOB GATIS then bore a powerful testimony in regard to the truth he had received he looked forward to the brightest period of the history this church has ever seen he felt well in that he had remained faithful and prayed for the blessings of the lord upon the people of god in the future and for alie final triumph of this great and glorious work which is destined to overcome everything evil and will yet bear rule and sway over the whole earth when god will reign as king of kings and lord of lords and when the gospel of christ will rule and bear sway over every power choir sang the anthem oh be joyful in the lord benediction by president angus M cannon sleeting adjourned until today to day at 10 a m |